A Mild Custom 1950 Ford Club Coupe Built and Cruised by a Circle of Friends
Congratulations to Gene and Joyce Dickinson for being named a Finalist for the Custom of the Year, presented by Scott’s Hotrods ‘n Customs, with their 1950 Ford Club Coupe!
A well-designed and well-executed custom car will stand the test of time, even as trends come and go. If you’re lucky, it will also forge bonds between friends and fellow enthusiasts, like Gene and Joyce Dickinson’s tasty mild custom 1950 Ford Club Coupe.
This bright red shoebox has been cruising the Mid-Atlantic region for many years now. Longtime custom enthusiast and painter Richard Glymph owned it for a while, and then Gene’s friend Jimmy Hahn bought it. Gene helped Jimmy work on the car, but soon after Jimmy was diagnosed with cancer. When he passed away, Gene expressed interest to the family in becoming the Ford’s caretaker, leading to his ownership.
A full-circle moment came a few years later when the car slipped out of gear in the driveway, rolled down a hill, and struck a tree, crunching the front end. Gene called on the Ford’s old owner, Richard Glymph and his son Brandon, to make the necessary repairs, with help from other friends Tony Brooks and Ricky Lowman.
Besides the connections between friends, this Ford is special for its clean, thoughtful restyling. Simple custom modifications include frenched headlights and taillights, a shaved and peaked hood, shaved trunk and door handles, and a frenched antenna. The modified ’54 Pontiac grille looks like it was born there, while shortened side trim adds a little brightwork. The PPG Roman Red paint applied by the father-and-son Glymph team gives this mild custom proper heat.
Stance is key on any custom, and this one nails it with a low, level ride height achieved using a GM G-body front clip grafted onto the frame by Butch Martin at the East Coast Hot Rod Garage. The rear of the frame was notched to provide clearance for the Ford 8-inch rearend. A Borgeson steering box and CPP front disc brakes improve the driving experience, along with Wheelsmith steel wheels fitted with Imperial wheel covers and Diamondback wide whitewalls. 
Power comes from a ’77 Oldsmobile 350c.i. V8 equipped with an Edelbrock carb and intake, MSD ignition, and dual exhaust with glasspacks. A March accessory drive system is mounted up front, and a Lokar-shited 200-4R overdrive transmission is connected behind.
The classic custom interior features white Naugahyde and red rolls and pleats stitched by Dave Pebler, along with wool carpet by Doug Kaufman. A ’60 Impala wheel tops the tilt column, and there are Classic Instruments gauges in the dash along with a Vintage Air system.
Gene wants to thank Meade Baldwin Jr. for the space to finish the coupe after it was repaired, along with George Donaldson and other friends for their assistance. Stacey at Owen’s Automotive helped prep the car for the road, and the Dickinsons have enjoyed soaking up the miles in their cool, custom 1950 Ford ever since.
Photos: Damon Lee
